Posted July 1, 2025

Sister Lillian Needham SSJ, (formerly S. Anne Michele SSJ), age 86, died on June 21, 2025, at Saint Joseph Villa.

The daughter of the late Joseph and Teresa (nee Kenny) Needham, she attended St. Leonard Academy Grade School and St. Leonard Academy High School.

In September 1959 she entered the Sisters of Saint Joseph, Chestnut Hill, and professed her final vows in 67.

Sister Lillian ministered in the dioceses of Albany, Newark, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Washington D.C.

She is preceded in death by her brother Joseph (Joan) Needham, sister Nancy Gullen, and brother-in-law John McDyer. She is survived by her brothers, Robert (Mary Ann) Needham, Donald Needham (Lynn Besen), John Needham, sister Teresa McDyer, brother-in-law Martin Gullen, her cousins, Margaret and Lorie Needham, many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, great great nieces and nephews, and members of her Congregation, the Sisters of Saint Joseph, Philadelphia.

Greeting of relatives and friends will begin at 9:30 on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, at Saint Joseph Villa in Flourtown. A Memorial Mass will follow at 10:30 AM. Services will be livestreamed from the Saint Joseph Villa website www.stjosephvilla.org.